Hitching element



E. N. BUTTERFIELD.

HITCHING ELEMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY13| 1921.

1,4123% Patented M11118, 11922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

E. N- BUTTERFIELD.

HITCHING ELEMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 13. 1921.

Patented Apr. 18, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

at onto.

EVERETT N. IBUTTERFIELD, 0F AUBURN. NEBRASKA.

nircrrrne ELEMENT.

rare-sac.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 15, 1922.

Application filed May 13, 1921. Serial No. 469,221.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EVERETT N. Burr s FIELD,a citizen of the United States, reslding at Auburn, in the county ofNemaha and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Hitching Elements, of which the followlng 1s aspecification.

This invention relates to carriage and wagon findings and moreparticularly to the hitching elements on the ends of whifiietrees orneckyokes.

The primary object of this inventlon resides in the provision of thehitching-elements constructed insuch manner that the liability of theiraccidental displacement is entirely eliminated. I

Another object of this invention resides in the provision ofhitching-elements embodying certain features of construction wherebytheir removable application to a whifiie-tree or neckyoke is readilypermitted with the assurance that their functions Wlll be performedtoward the end of safely harnessing a team in working position to avehicle.

A still further object of this invention resides in the provision ofhitching-elements which are removably attached to a whiflletree orneckyoke in such manner that they can withstand the strain to which suchelements are subjected, without their accidental displacement.

With these and other objects in view, this invention consists of certainnovel features of construction and arrangement of elements to behereinafter more particularly set forth in the specification and pointedout in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing: Fig. 1 is a plan view of a whifiie-tree wth the elements of this invention in operative position thereon.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged end view thereof. Fig. 3 is an enlargedlongitudinal section View on line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detailperspective view of one of the cap-plates. Fig. 5 is a similar view ofone end of the whiflie-tree.

Fig. 6 is a similar View of one of the sleeves.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a neckyoke provided with the elements of thisinvention.

In the present embodiment of this invention, the opposite ends of theWhittle-tree 5 and neckyoke 10 are reduced as at 12 and provided withV-shaped depressions 14 formed in their outer surfaces 15, saiddepressions being adjacent the peripheries of the reduced portions 12.

Adapted to be removably fitted on each of the aforesaid reduced portions12 is a sleeve 16, each of which having an eye 17 formed thereon andprovided with radially disposed notches 18 adapted to align with theaforesaid depressions 14 when in operative position.

In order to immovably retain the aforesaid sleeves 16 on the ends of thewhifiietree or neckyoke, a cap-plate 19 is tightened against the outerend of each sleeve through the instrumentality of suitable elements 20which engaged the whifHe-tree, the said elements being in this instancein the form of screws. Each of the aforesaid cap-platesis provided onits inner surface with V-shaped lugs 21 adapted to seat within thedepressions 14 and notches 18 when in operative position to prevent therotation of the sleeve on the whifiie-tree.

Suitably carried by the aforesaid eyes 17 are hitching-elements 22, thesame being formed to readily accomplish the advantages necessarilyrequired of the element to which the sleeve is attached.

With this invention fully set forth, it is manifest that an efficientmeans of safety is provided for hitching a team to a vehicle, andnotwithstanding the fact that the present disclosure sets forth the mostpractical embodiment of my invention, I reserve the right to resort tosuch changes as come within the scope of the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protectby Lettors-Patent is:

1. The combination with a whifle-tree having reduced ends provided withV- shaped depressions, of'sleeves on the reduced ends of thewhifiie-tree and having notches in their outer edges, eyes on saidsleeves, hitching elements carried by said eyes, capplates over saidsleeves, lugs on said capments carried by the sleeves, cap-plates overthe sleeves, lugs on the cap-plates engaging 10 the depressions in theWhifiie-tree and notches in the sleeves, and means securing thecap-plates to the ends of the Whifiie-tree. In testimony whereof I afiixmy signature.

EVERETT N. BUTTERFIELD.

